Portable collapsible ironing board



March 20, 1951 A. P. LANTz PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE IRONING BOARD sheets-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1947 l im ALPHA PERRY LANrz.

March 20, 1951 A. P. LANTZ PORTABLE coLLAPsIBLE IRoNING BOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lFilecl Jan. 15, 194'? Qwuwvto/v A LPHA PERRY LANTZ.

Y Patented Mar. 20, 14951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE GOLLAPSIBLE IRQNING BOARD Alpha Perry Lantz, Washington, D, C,

Application January 15, 1947, Serial N o. '722,252

4 Claims. (Cl. 38..-194) "lhis invention relates to .e collapsible ironing hoard ,and has `for itsprimary .obieet the provision oi e boe-.rd of that .character possessing simple and Astrong oriareeteristies enabling the folding of the seetions of the boord upon eeeh other and te eoinperetivelv thin Het .state for storage xor transportation when riot in use, arid to .be ,unfolded into ironing relationship when desired yfor .imi-lips operation, rendering employment of less vor props quite unrieoessery.

Subordinate objects vof the invention` are the provision 1of e novel .hing-ine means between the sections of .the eollapsible board., Said hineins means loeinsof a shiftabie nature in addition te a normalipnotiop oi rotating. adopted to Aswine one .section lof the hoard relative to the other to permit said section to elevate above the pivotal when the one section is peine folded onto the other, to prevent any ,Catching Aor interference at thelirie of iuneture between the adjqinqing sections, so that the outer vsection oi the board may be svvurie onto ,the top of the inner section, .or vice versa, .the board is :eollapsed.

Amother obieet is to provide a `supporting means, ashooks uithadlusteoie Shanks for appropriate adjustment when the boa-rd is to loe supported upon e partially opened drawer or thev like and lthe hooks engaged behind an ordinary `bridge piece above the drawer opening found in the usual pieces ,of furniture, and means for fastening the hooks and Shanks in the desired position with respect to the hoard and bridge piece, the fastening device Vcomprising stop members on the hook Shanks and complemerital stops .mounted ,on the board, ,formed of astrong Wire conguration and arrangement to lie close to the bottom surface of the board and avoid projecting parts `ceyond the bottom of the board that may catch on ,clothing or the like encountered in a suitcase or equivalent when the closed board is carried therein when traveling from .place-to-place.

The specific details in the construction .and

arrangementof the parts of the construction will be yclear from the particular Vdescription l,hereinaftercontained when read in connection-with `the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and wherein ythe preferred embodiment of the invention vis illustrated.

`Iriw-the drawings:

Figure ,1: is a top View lof the vboard with its sections openorextendedas for use in raniron ing operation.

.Fielirezgis -in'themain an edge-pieu thelmeet- 2 ing ends of the vsections being in longitudinal section.

Figure 3 is .a similar view with the sections folded, the outer section upon the inner section.

Figure 4 is a bottom View Aof the meeting end of the inner or attaching section.

Figure 5 is a similar view of the meeting end Iof the .outer section.

Figure A6 is a bottom View of Figure 1 showing the complete ironing board.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of Figure 6 approximately on the line l of the latterthrough one of ythe attaching hooks and Shanks thereof.

Figure `8 is ia ecentral longitudinal section on thev line 8-8 0f Figure 6,

Figure 9 is Ya transverse section on the line 9,-.9 of Figure 6 looking to ,the left.

Figure 10 is a detail bottom View to more v wherein like reference letters designate the same` parts inthe several views lil designates the inner or ,attaching section of the ironing board and l5 the outer section thereof, the section l being depressed and extended transversely thereacross to provide a corresponding seating portion it to receive the meeting end portion I -l of the outer section i 5 so that when ythe sections are unfolded or extended, as in Figure 2V, that lis in ironing state, -the upper or operating faces of the sections lil and l5 are flush or in a common horizontal plane. Y

The section t5 is provided With a reinforcing beaded marginal edge vE18 4substantially for the full extentof such margin, by said edge terminating in .depending flanges I9 to overlie .the marginal edges ofthe depressed .or seating portion le at the end vof athe ysection M, thus reinforcing the sections against tlateral play when yunfolded or in operative position.

The section M around Vits margin has a reinforcing 4depending flange 2li of varying depth with inwardly offset horizontal terminal ,portions 2;! to strengthen the `section ,Lil ,and otherwise function as will be .pointed out. their ,tends the Pflanged edges .2c and 2li are in- Interinediate creased in depth and enlarged as at 22 to accommodate the shorter end 23 or an L-shaped pivot pin or pintle 24, the longer end 25 is carried by the outer section I5, said shorter end 23 of the pintle is passed through the adjacent vertical ange 2t of the section I from the outer side thereof and headed to retain the same in place aS at 2E on the inner face of said flange; and said longer end 25 of the pintle being rotatively received in a bearing 2? formed of an extended integral part of the material of the top section I5 bent to underlie the top of the outer section as at 2S and adapted to be accommodated by additionally depressed areas 2S at the inner corners of the depressed portion I6 of the section I4 opening to short rounded portions 30 of the latter in which the bearings 21 seat when the section is open to ironing position.

The sections ill and I5 are of a contour indicated at 3l to permit the connected or outer end of the pintle 21'; to occupy a position within the plane of the outer edges of the board. By reason of the construction of the hinges (it will be understood that a specific description of one will apply to both) in the fashion indicated, it will be observed that when the board sections are extended to occupy a common plane, as in Figure 6, the wide and broad overlapping edges I6 and Ii thereof, by reason of their interfitting relationship, will afford an ample support for the outer section I5 of the board, the pintles 2Q tieing the sections together to prevent relative longitudinal separation of the sections. When, however, it is desired to fold the board the pintles 24 will not only function to permit ordinary pivotal movement of the sections, but the special shape and connection of the pintles with the sections will permit the outer section I5 to be raised and swung to a relatively elevated point with reference to the inner section lli so that the outer section i5 may be laid over or upon the inner section I4 in parallelism therewith throughout the entire areas of the sections.

While, in ordinary work, the same may be unnecessary, for heavier work I have provided supplemental supporting means for the outer section, when extended, to afford additional strength in the meeting or hinged areas of the sections I4 and I5, the same comprising flat tail members or lugs 32 formed integral with the end portion I'I of the section I5 adapted to pass through openings 33 in the section Ill and slightly downwardly offset from the plane of the end portion I'I so as to underlie the top of the section I4 as clearly shown in Figure 2. The openings 33 are sulficiently elongated to permit these tail members or lugs 32 to pass upwardly therethrough when the outer section I5 is folded down on the section I4, as previously observed.

The above described features of the folding of the sections of the board will not be claimed herein because the same constitutes subj ect matter of a companion divisional application led May 19, 1948, Serial No. 27,875, wherein such phase of the invention is specially claimed.

The ironing board when unfolded and mounted to be supported in operative position, as on an open drawer of a desk, dresser or, in fact, any similar article of furniture at hand, is to be attached thereto by means of the hook members 34 extended upwardly from their shank portions 3e passing through suitable guide openings 36 in the Vertical portions 31 of the inner end flanges of the section I, the lower inwardly turned or horizontal terminals 38 of the end flange abutting the bottoms of the Shanks 35 and the apertures 35 being in the plane of the upper surface of the horizontal terminal portion Si! so that the shanks 35 having a substantial bearing and support in their back-and-forth movement through the flange 31, which movement, it will be noted, is in a plane whereby the upper surfaces of the hook Shanks S is approximately coincident with the bottom edge of the side iianges 33 of the inner section Iii, of the board intended to rest upon the upper edge of the front of the drawer, this arrangement being provided so that the hooks 35 when projected to nt behind the ordinary bridge piece above a drawer opening with the hook shanks passing beneath the bridge piece, there may be no longitudinal tipping or tilting of the board from an approximately true horizontal plane for ironing operation.

To maintain the hooks and their Shanks in the desired adyusted positlon with rele-rence to the inner end of the section id, a series of stop niembers 39 are provided, the same being struck down and underlying portions from the material of the top of the section l, as indicated at these stop members being arranged in two series (rigure 6) and struck down or laced in opposite directions to be effective adjacent to the inner sides of the shank portions of the hooks tt. Cooperating with the stop members are a par of oppositely disposed spring latches, one mounted on tne bottom surface of each shank portion 35, to be moved along with the longitudinal shifting of said shanks to engage the stop members according to the adjustment of the hooks and Shanks. These spring latches are of the construction now to be defined:

rlhey are formed of wire of appropriate size and stiffness for the purpose, having an operating end portion 4I secured transversely of the hook shank 35 by eyes or staples 5.12 (Figure 6) permanently fastened to the hook Shanks 35, and through which the operating end portion il passes and is free to rotate. The outer end of this operating portion preferably is bent to form an eye 43 through which a finger ring 44 passes and occupies a position to be engaged by an operator to' actuate the operating end `portion Iii. The outer end of the operating end portion 4I, that is the end thereof opposite the ring 13, is bent upon itself as at B5 and extended outwardly as at It, where it is bent or turned upwardly at "il close to the under surface of the top of the board section Ill whence it runs transversely to fo'rm the upper horizontal portion of an oblong loop 48 of a length to abut the edges 39 of the stops 39, the base of the loop d8 being constituted by the end i9 of the wire around which the inner end 5@ of a flat spring 5i is secured to constantly press the loop 8 upwardly, the free end or" the spring being anchored between the under face of the hook shank and the portion of the operating end portion 4I and being held against lateral play by the staples 42.

Fromthe foregoing construction it will be seen that by engaging and turning the finger ring Fi I 4which can normally lie flat against the under surface of the panel llithe operating end portion 4I may be caused to rotate to the right and correspondingly lower the catch or loop i3 Suniciently to draw the same below the engaged edge of the stop 39 with which 'it may be engaged and downwardly away from the top of the section I4 so that the Shanks 35 and the hooks' 3s may be free for adjustment.v When the 'appropriate ad- 5 justment has been effected the ring M will be freed and the spring 5l will again thrust the loop or catch 68 upwardly into position to engage an adjacent stop.

To steady and support the shanks 35 at their inner ends said inner ends are turned upwardly as at 52 and formed into overhangs 53 to enter the ways formed between the top of the member I4 and inwardly turned part of the flanges Zlunderlying the edges of said top. Suitable pads of `rubber or other material, designated 5:3 may be carried on the relatively wide portions of said Vflanges 2i to rest upon the top of the drawer behind the projecting facing strip thatrsometimes extends above the top edge of the Ydrawer in protecting the same against scratching or marring the furniture, and similar rubber pads or coverings 55 may be used to cover the upper faces of the inner corners and end of the section I4 to similarly protect the furniture when the ironing board is carelessly being inserted in the drawer opening from over the top of the drawer. The upper faces of the hook shanks may be similarly protected by pads or coverings 56.

In a portable structure such as herein described, the board should be as light as possible,

along one side edge of the body portion and a guide part punched from the body portion, said attaching means comprising hooks having shanks passing through the openings of the end reinforcingflange, each shank having lateral extensions to form ahead and a return :bend to position the head parallel with the shank and within a guide, and latch means associated with the shanks and the guides to hold the hooks in adjusted position.

2. A portable ironing board formed from sheet metal'and means for temporarily attaching the board to an article of furniture, said board comprising a body portion, a reinforcing flange at one end of the body portion having spaced openings therein, and guides formed as a part of the board, each guide including a reinforcing ange along one side edge of the body portion having a horizontal section extending inwardly of the board and guide tongues punched from the body portion extending downwardly and outwardly of the board, said attaching means comprising hooks having shanks passing through the openings of the end reinforcing flange, each shank having lateral extensions to form a head and a return bend to position the head parallel with the shank and within a guide. and latches associated with 6 the shanks and guides to hold the hooks in adjusted position.

3. A portable ironing board formed from sheet metal and means for temporarily attaching the board to an article of furniture, said board comprising a body portion, a reinforcing flange at one end of the body portion having spaced openings therein, and guides formed as a part of the board, each guide including a reinforcing flange along one side edge of the body portion having a horizontal section extending inwardly of the board and guide tongues punched from the body portion extending downwardly and outwardly of the board, said attaching means comprising hooks having shanks passing through `the openings of the end reinforcing flange, each shank having lateral extensions to form a head and a return bend to position the head parallel with the shank and `within a guide, and latches associated with the shanks and guides to hold the hooks in adjusted position, each latch comprising a wire loop pivotally supported on a hook shank and a spring for swinging the loop vertically between and into engagement with one of the tongues.

4. A portable ironing board formed from sheet metal and means 'for temporarily attaching the board to an article of furniture, said board comprising a body portion, a reinforcing ange at one end of the body portion having spaced openings therein, and guides formed as a part of the board,-

each guide including a reinforcing flange along one side edge of the body portion having a horizontal section extending inwardly of the board and guide tongues punched from the body portion extending downwardly and outwardly of the board, said attaching means com-prising hooks having shanks passing through the openings of the end reinforcing ange, each shank having lateral extensions to form a head and a return bend to position the head parallel with the shankand within a guide, and latches associated with the shanks and guides to hold the hooks in adjusted. position, each latch comprising an open wire loop having the ends of the Wire extending parallel to one another, one of said ends being pivotally connected to a hook shank and provided with an operating means and the other of said ends being engaged by a spring to swing the loop vertical between and into engagement with one of the tongues.

ALPHA PERRY LANTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,042,826 Schongold Oct. 29, 1912 1,091,233 Mitchell Mar. 24, 1914 1,266,993 Romans May 21, 1918 1,300,993 Miller Apr. 15, 1919 1,775,769 King Sept. 16, 1930 1,796,569 Madsen Mar. 17, 1931 1,796,714 James Mar. 17, 1931 

